Stocking and method of making same



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Original Filed August 26, 1922 Patented June 1, 1926.

UNITED STATES EDWARDO. WILSON, 01 OAK PARK, ILLINOIS, ABSIGNOR TOHEMPHILL COMPANY, OF CENTRAL FALLS, BHODE-ISLAND, A. CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

STOCKING AN D METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Application filed August 26, 1922, Serial No. 584,496. Renewed May 10,1924.;

This invention relates to stockings and to the method of making thesame. In order that the principle of the invention may be readilyunderstood, I have disclosed in the 5 drawing a single embodiment of thestocking and will describe the best mode known to me for making the samewithout limiting my invention thereto.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an outside view on a larger scale of a part of the back of thestocking at the high splice region;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the mslde of the stocking at the high splicereglon; and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat diagrammatlc detail indicating the formation ofsome of the stitches of the main and reinforcing threads and the floatedportions of said reinforcing thread.

The stocking of my invention is prefer-' ably a so-called circular orseamless stocking knitted upon a circular machine having means to formthe heel and toe pockets, such as narrowing and widening pickers. Whileany suitable mechanism may be employed 1n the production of thestocking, the machme should be equipped with means for introducing themain knitting yarn, and for ntroducing reinforcing yarns at deslredpoints. My invention pertains more particularly to the knitting of areinforcement or reinforcing area having non-parallel sides. In thedisclosed embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing area is locatedat the back of the heel and is of a general triangular shape with theapex pointmg upward and on the back median line of the stocking. I willdescribe the disclosed embodiment of the invention without speclficallylimiting myself thereto as to all aspects of the invention.

The stockings may be begun at the top 1 i of the leg or at the top line2 of the toe.

Assuming merely for brevity of description that the stocking is begun atthe top lot the leg, it is knitted preferably by rotary kmttingthroughout excepting for the heel and toe pockets which are madebynarrovvmg and widening in any suitable manner, as by the use ofnarrowing and widening pickers; The stocking may have a garter top orwelt ortion ind1cated at 3, and the yarn may be changed during theformation of the stocking as desired, and the length of the stitches maybe changed at a number of points as the knitting progresses, so as toaid in giving shape or form to the stock-' mg in the knitting operation.

It iscustomary in the knitting of stockings to substitute for the mainyarn a high splice yarn or to introduce a reinforcing yarn for the highsplice area above the heel, the yarn being again changed if desired atthe commencement of the heel. In .accordance with the disclosedembodiment of the invention I provide a reinforcing or high splice areain an improved manner and in such a way as to produce an entirelyacceptable article more readily than it has heretofore been made. 4

When the oint 4 has been reached at the top of a big splice area 5, Iintroduce a remflorcing yarn of any suitable character and 1n anysuitable manner as by providing a yarn feeding finger carrying the highsplice yarn and providing an additional cam which will depress all theneedles in the vicinity of the high splice yarn finger excepting thosethat are to take the high splice yarn and in successive courses varyingthe number of needles which are to receive the high splice yarn or thesaid high splice yarn may be suitably introduced by movement of the highsplice yarn finger. Regardless of' the precise manner for controllingthe knitting of the reinforcing yarn upon a successively and preferablyconstantly increasing number of needles in successive courses, I somanipulate the needles and the reinforcing or high splice yarn guidein'relation to each other as to cause the reinforcing or high spliceyarn to be taken by a minimum number of needles at the point 4, as, forexample, one, two or four needles, and in the succeeding courses, of anydesired number, I gradually increase and. in desirably regular order thenumber of needles taking the reinforcing or high splice yarn andcontinue 100 this operation until the'top of the heel is reached at theline 6-6, after which the high splice yarn is herein withdrawn and theheel yarn is introduced.

The high splice yarn which is indicated at 7 in Fig. 4, is knitted inwith the main yarn 8 as shown in said figure to produce the triangularor other reinforcing area, and from the cadet each artial coursethroughout the entire formation of the triangular or other reinforcingarea, the reinforcing yarn 7' is floated directly to the opposite end ofthe next succeeding course, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 at 9, thesaid'figure being, as stated, an inside view of the stocking. Thus thestocking presents a triangular or other suitably shaped reinforcing areawhere1n the high splice or reinforcing yarn 1s kmtted in with the mainyarn, and from edge to edge of the said high splice or reinforclng areathe reinforcing or high splice yarn is floated directly across but isleft unimpaired or intact throughout the entire reinforcin or highsplice area and is of the short, but gradually increasing length shownin the several partial courses constituting the reinforcing area.

It will be observed, viewing Fig. 1, that at its base the high splicearea is knitted upon a series of needles sufliciently approaching onehalf the series of needles to constitute and to possess the advantagesof what is known in the art as a high sphce, which high splice when offull width is knitted at its base upon one half the circle of needles,but which when constituting what is known in the art as a narrow highsplice, as here shown, is knitted at its base upon somewhat less thanone half the needles.

Afterthe stocking has been removed from the machine a mock seam,preferably of sewing stitches, is placed at the back of the stockingthrough at least the entire extent of the reinforcing or high splicearea, that is, from the oint 4 to at least the point 9. As here siown, Iextend the said seam or line of sewing stitches from a point 10 in theheel to a point 11 at the bottom of the welt or garter top, such seamnot only simulating a full fashioned stocking, but partaking of theimportant function of securing in place and holding flat against theinner face of the stockin the whole series of partial courses offloating yarn.

Thus the high splice or other reinforcing area is actually reinforced bythe knitted-in portion of the reinforcing yarn and is further reinforcedby the floating portions of said yarn, so th 1: in effect there is atriple thickness or faliric substance composed of a main yarn, thereinforcing or high splice yarn knitted in, and the floating portions ofsaid reinforcing yarn.

' While I have referred to a line of sewing stitches constituting themock seam, it is evident that any other suitable seaming means orfloating yarn holding means may be employed, but I prefer the sewed seambecause the sewing thread actually pene-- trates or surrounds thevarious cross portions of the floating thread and binds or secures thesame inosition.

.Having t us described one embodiment of my invention and the bestmethod known to me for producing the same, I desire it to be understoodthat although I have used specific terms they are employed in a genericor descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope ofthe invention being set forth in the accompanying claims.

Claims- 1. A circular knit or seamless stocking having a knittedreinforcement above the.

heel whose maximum lateral extent sufficiently approaches one half thecircumference of the stocking to constitute a high splice area composedof the main or body yarn and a continuous, non-severed reinforcing yarnknitted in with the main yarn from edge to edge of such reinforcingarea, and also floated intact against the inner face'of the'stockingfrom and between said edges of the high splice area, and having meansstructurally distinct from the reinforcing yarn for holding the floatedportions thereof intact in position in the completed stocking againstits inner face.

2. That method of producin a high splice circular knit or seamless stocing comprising .knitting a main yarn or yarns and at the high splicearea above the heel introducing a continuous, non-severed high spliceyarn and knitting the same with the main yarn for'successivelyincreasing portions of successive partial courses until one half thecircumference of the stocking is sufficiently approached to form atriangular high splice reinforcement above the heel, the apex whereofisuppermost and at the back median line of the stocking, fioatingthereinforcing yarn intact from the end of each said partial course of thehigh splice area to the commencement of the next partial course of saidarea, and thereafter securing the floated portions of said reinforcingyarn intact and permanently in place against the inner face of the highsplice area between the edges of the reinforcement by a distinct line ofstitches.

. 3. A circular knit or seamless stocking having a knitted reinforcementabove the heel whose maximum lateral extent sufficiently approaches onehalf the circumference of the stocking to constitute a high splice areacomposed of the main or body yarn and a continuous. non-severedreinforcmg yarn knitted in with the main yarn from edge to edge of suchreinforcing area, and also floated intact against the inner face of thestockingfrom and between said edges of the hlgh splice area, and havingmeans between said edges to hold the floating portions of thereinforcing yarn intact in position in the completed stocking againstits inner face. 4. A circular knit or seamless stocking having a knittedreinforcement above the heel whosemaximumdateral extent sufli cientlyapproaches one half the circumference of the stockin to constitute a hih splice area compose of the main or body menace yarn and a continuous,non-severed rein-- forcing yarn knitted in with the main yarn from edgeto edge of such reinforcing area, and also floated intact against theinner face of the stocking from and between said edges of the highsplice area, and a line of sewing stitches at the backmedian line of thestocking to hold the floating portions of the reinforcing yarn inposition intact in the completed'stocking against its inner face.

5. A circular knit or seamless stocking having a knitted reinforcementabove the heel Whose maximumdateral extent sufficiently approaches one.half the circumference of the stocking to constitute a high splice areaat the back thereof above the heel, composed of a main yarn and acontinuous, non-severed reinforcing yarn knitted in with the main yarnthroughout gradually increasing portions of successive courses until onehalf the circumference of the stocking is sufiiciently approached toprovide a triangular high splice reinforce-- ment the apex of which isuppermost and symmetrical with the back median line of the stocking, thesaid continuous reinforcing yarn being floated intact from the-end ofeach partial course to the commencement 'of the next partial course, anda line of sewing stitches at said back median line securing saidfloating yarn portions intact in place against the inner face of thestock- 1n Y That method of producing a high splace circular knit orseamless stocking comprising knitting a main yarn or yarns and at thehigh splice area above the heel introducing a continuous, non-severedhigh splace yarn and knitting the same with the main yarn forsuccessively increasing portions of successive partial courses until onehalf the circumference of the stocking is sufliciently approached toform a triangular high splice reinforcement above the heel,

the apex whereof is uppermost and at the back median line of thestocking, floating the reinforcing yarn intact from the end of each saidpartial course of the high splice area to the commencement ofthe nextpartial course of said area, and thereafter securing the floatedportions of said reinforcing yarn intact and permanently in placeagainst the inner face of the high splice area by a line vof sewingstitches extending along the said back median line of the stocking.

7. A. circular knit or seamless stocking having a knitted reinforcementabove the heel whose maximum lateral extent sufficiently approaches onehalf the circumference of the stocking to constitute a high splice areacomposed of a main or body yarn and a continuous, non-severed,reinforcing yarn knitted in with the main yarn throughout graduallyincreasing portions of successive courses to provide a triangularportion, the apex of which is uppermost and symmetrical with the backmedian line of the stocking, the said continuous reinforcing yarn beingfloated intact from the end of each partial course to the commencementof the next partial course, so that in each course there exists anuninterrupted series of reinforced loops and a float thread lyingagainst said loops, and a line of sewing machine stitches at said backmedian line securing said floating yarn portions intact andpermanentlyin place against the inner face of the stocking.

8. A circular knit or seamless stocking having a knitted reinforcementabove the heel whose maximum lateral extent sufliciently approaches onehalf the circumference of the stocking to constitute a tapered highsplice at the back thereof above the heel and the base of which taperedhigh splice is of slightly less length than but is symmetrical with thefirst course of the heel, the leg of said stocking bein composed of amain yarn and a continuous, non-severed, reinforcing yarn knitted inwith the main yarn throughout gradually increasing portions ofsuccessive courses to provide a triangular portion, the apex of which isuppermost and symmetrical with the back median line of the stocking, the

said continuous reinforcing yarn bein floated intact from the end ofeach partia course to the commencement of the next partial course,whereby in each course there is a line of reinforced loops and also afloat thread thereagainst, and a line of sewing stitches at said backmedian line of the stocking, thereby securing the said floating yarnportions intact and permanently in place against the inner face of thestocking, whereby a triple thickness of fabric substance is providedcomposed of the main yarn, the knitted in portions of the reinforcingyarn and the permanently secured floating ortions of said reinforcingyarn. In testlmony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

EDWARD 0. WILSON.

